30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 14 25-33 The cost of discipleship 04 By wise counsel wage war
📖 Luke 14:25-33
26Dec19 - *By wise counsel wage war* - _Luke 14:25-33_ - Bible reading: _II Kings 19:14-19_
We have been considering the background necessary to be experienced before we go into the specific criteria for discipleship. We first looked at the matter of preparedness for discipleship. Secondly, we looked at our responsibility to press on in faith in God the Holy Spirit, to be His disciples.
Jesus gave us a second analogy to be understood as a background for us to be His disciples.
_Luke 14:31-32 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? (32) Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace._
The principle in this second analogy, is to be humble, to be a disciple of Jesus. Opposition will come against us and we could either become arrogant and say, “I’ll show those who oppose me that I will defeat them” or it could be a response of surrender. Neither of these responses are right. Our response has to be one of humility in trusting God to be a disciple of Christ. We need to realise that we need Him at every step.
We see an example of this attitude demonstrated to us by King Hezekiah. The Kings of Assyria were threatening Hezekiah and the people of Judah that they would overrun them. Hezekiah, could have become arrogant and tried to give back a fitting response to the Assyrians or he could have surrender to them in cowardice.
King Hezekiah, humbled himself before the Lord and spread out the threat of the Assyrians, before God, seeking His help. _II Kings 19:14 And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. II Kings 19:19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone."_
_Proverbs 20:18 Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war._ Discipleship to Christ is not about fighting the battles of life on our strength, neither is it to run away from the war in timidity, but *by wise counsel wage war*.
We will face adversaries in our discipleship journey but it is for us to be humble, trusting God and not respond in arrogance, neither in weakness. _Luke 12:58-59 When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. (59) I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite."_
*Thought to ponder*
```Are you seeking God’s counsel or are you waging war on your own?```